Greetings all, I could have sworn I already did this but it would appear not. I am a 23 year old Dubliner and having recently been laid off I have decided to give this writing lark a proper go. I mainly write poetry but there is always a bit of fiction somewhere along the line. Looking forward to staring blankly at a computer screen, Michael

Welcome, Michael. And a lot of us find it just as soothing (maybe more so) to stare blankly into the pages of a notebook while holding a fountain pen. It's more portable, and doesn't have the temptation of Angry Birds.

Greetings all, I could have sworn I already did this but it would appear not. I am a 23 year old Dubliner and having recently been laid off I have decided to give this writing lark a proper go. I mainly write poetry but there is always a bit of fiction somewhere along the line. Looking forward to staring blankly at a computer screen, Michael

My browser made a line break after "laid." I thought, "shouldn't that go in Sweet Smell of Success?" Having just returned from a reading in a hall where the air conditioning wasn't working and the author was overcome by emotion during most of the 40-minute reading about returning a dead soldier's remains to his village, I needed the chuckle.

Margaret DeAngelis Markings: Days of Her Life http://www.silkentent.com/Trees

Hello Michael! You've reminded me that I don't think I ever properly introduced myself either. I have decided to apply to MFA programs in Fiction for 2013. Am finding all the information people have already posted very handy. I look forward to chatting with all the other people applying this year!

Good Evening! I'm new to P&W and I'm not sure I'm on a nickname basis with site because I'm new, but oh well.

I'm not quite sure what to type so here goes. My name is D and I have been writing poetry since I was in the 5th grade. It took me to recently graduate college and a push from a friend to encourage me to try and submit my poetry and participate.

Besides writing poetry I also write fairy tales, tall tales, and flash fiction. Also, I love poetry readings, performance poetry, and poetry slams. I just moved to the NYC Metro area and to tell you the truth starting from scratch sucks, but I'll endure.

Now, after putting my info on the table I'm glad to be here and if anyone knows how to survive with the only talent you have is writing, dancing, and a hard work ethic without any formal training please let me know. Thanks!

hi folks, I'm new here (of course you already new that since I'm replying to "introduce yourself") you might wonder as to why the username PandaMonium...it's corny, I know but my name is Andy, and if you remember the old cartoon: Andy Panda...well that would be the reason

I've been writing poetry, essays and short stories for my own pleasure as long as I can remember. I've done a lot of tech writing as part of various jobs I've had throughout the years (and, no offense to anyone, I never want to do it again!). I used to be editor-in-chief of a science fiction/fantasy fanzine back in the 1980's. I've done a ton of editing as part of various jobs, and I'm currently doing freelance editing. I also write music and play piano! I've put some links in my profile where you can go to hear some of my music and read some of my poetry and adventure anecdotes (I've had some good adventures...).

I'm really glad to be here, and I'm looking forward to all of it, ha! My plan is to extricate myself from types of work that I haven't been enjoying and get back into the creative arts that I love, particularly writing, editing & music.

Hello all, my name is Kat Star (not my full first name, but it is the name I go by professionally) and I am pretty new to the world of writing as work. I studied Creative Writing as my concentration of study at The New School and graduated in 2008, and since then have held a copy writer/editor job and a QA Tester job for a video game studio, where I had my first real publication when I created written content for the game the company put out which was called "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning". I write poetry and some short stories on the side right now and am preparing to begin my second QA job at a new studio in the area, though I am always on the lookout for writing and editing jobs. Feel free to check out some of my work or find out a little more about me at my portfolio site: http://kat-star.comThanks!

Hi p&w people. My name is Dave and I'm 18 (younger than most). I'm a freshman at a university. I'm a genuinely happy guy and I've always loved to write from a young age though I had mediocre tendencies in high school. I've ran into many problems relative to the context of my surroundings growing up (a rich town). I started taking up writing as a hobby on the side in high school but never expressed that to anyone. In college, I'm doing great with my writing but I am humbled by how much I don't know. I am a student of life and I have stories to tell. I just want to write and you all seem like just the people to surround myself with. Writing is not just a hobby to me, but it helps me relax and rejuvenate. Hope I can get to know some people and you can all get to take something from me.

Hey, my name is Amanda and I'm a recent college graduate with a Creative Writing degree. Just wanted to say "Hi," and I look forward to getting to know some more writers! Also, is there a place on here where I can ask for editors/ people to read my writing? I have a few pieces I'd like someone to look over before I send them with grad school applications. Thanks, and happy writing.

"The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places." Ernest Hemingway

Hello everyone! I'm Katerina and i'm from Greece. I accidentally found this page today and i think it is really interesting! I'm studying English Language and Literature at OU. I am a new writer and i am really exited i joined this forum. I don't know any writers and sometimes i feel lonely in all of this. Imiss the feeling that someone will understand my thoughts or concerns or even advice me about something. P.S. Is this page just for writers around America? I hope not! See you around :)

Welcome, Katerina. No, we have no rules about where you must be to participate here, as long as you can do it in English. (I suppose it would be all right to do it in Greek, but I don't know how many of us would be able to participate.)